Published 12:00 am, Monday, December 3, 2012

STORRS -- Pretty much from the time the UConn coaching staff first began to formulate the best course of action for Monday nigth's Jimmy V Classic showdown with Maryland, the visions of seeing the Terrapins' towering and relentless frontcourt rip down one rebound after another has been hard for the UConn brain trust to shake.

UConn has allowed more than 10 offensive rebounds in four of its first six games, and none of those teams has a trio anywhere near what Maryland possesses in double-double machine Tianna Hawkins, the incredibly underrated Alicia DeVaughn and all-everything All-American Alyssa Thomas.

"They are probably the biggest team we will play all year long," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "I think Stefanie (Dolson), Stewie (Breanna Stewart), Morgan (Tuck), Kiah Stokes will be really challenged. They are getting about 20 offensive rebounds a game. That is a lot of offensive rebounds. I would venture to say that if they get 20 offensive rebounds (tonight), we are going to be in trouble, so that is obviously a big focus of our preparation."

With sophomore forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis back in the starting lineup after missing Wednesday's game with Colgate with a concussion, the Huskies will be as near as 100 percent as they have been all season. That resulted in Auriemma stating that three-year starting guard Caroline Doty will come off the bench so 6-4 freshman forward Breanna Stewart can remain in the starting lineup heading into Monday's game at the XL Center (7 p.m., ESPN2).

Maryland would love to have such lineup deliberations. Starting guard Laurin Mincy became the third Maryland rotation player to suffer a torn ACL injury leaving the Terrapins with just eight scholarship players.

"We are down to eight players, but I couldn't ask for eight better players in terms of who to coach and eight kids that bring it every single day," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said.

UConn has some size of its own to counter the Terrapins with 6-foot-5 Stefanie Dolson joining Stewart up front. They are two major reasons why the Huskies have outscored its first six opponents 261-54 in the paint.

"You talk about the points they scored in the paint, and I was looking at their 3-point percentage and their inside/outside game," Frese said. "You have to try to find a way to slow them down especially with the way they run. With our size, we have great length and size so we have to slow them down.

"Looking at their statistics, looking at them on film this could be the deepest team that Geno and his staff has had. Really when you look at no one is playing heavy minutes, either 25-26 minutes a game, it allows them to play extremely hard and keep the pressure up. That is why they have been able to have such dominating, convincing wins."

Dolson, who is emerging into a leader both on and off the court, was recruited heavily by Maryland before opting to commit to UConn.

Dolson downplayed any emotional impact from going up against a coach who recruited her, but did not try to sugarcoat how important it is for UConn's posts to hold their own against Maryland.

"They have a great rebounding team, a lot of bigs on the team, so it is definitely going to be a big test for us just seeing how much fight we have in us," Dolson said. "I am excited."

NO. 11 MARYLAND AT NO. 2 UCONN

? When: Monday, 7 p.m.

? Where: XL Center, Hartford

? Records: Maryland 4-1; UConn 6-0

? TV: ESPN2

? RADIO: WTIC-1080; WELI-960

KEEP AN EYE ON

? Dialing up the pressure: With its deepest team in a few years, UConn has been working on extending full-court pressure. Look for the Huskies to harass a Maryland team that lost starting guards Brene Moseley and Laurin Mincy to torn ACL injuries and is extremely inexperienced in the backcourt. The injuries leave Maryland with eight healthy scholarship players.

? Huskies' finally healthy: This will be the first time all season that the Huskies will have all of their key players at or close to 100 percent. Bria Hartley missed nearly all of preseason camp and the first two games with a sprained ankle but is set to start her second straight game. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis is back after missing the last game with a concussion. UConn coach Geno Auriemma said he will be starting freshman Breanna Stewart over Caroline Doty because the Huskies need to have two true post players out there from the start. Ironically, this will be the 100th game of Doty's collegiate career.

? Cause hits home for coaches: It took a special cause for UConn and Maryland to finally play. When Jimmy V Classic organizers approached Maryland coach Brenda Frese about playing in the event, she never hesitated since the event raises money for cancer research and her son Tyler has been waging a battle with leukemia. As for UConn coach Geno Auriemma, he has been a supporter of the Jimmy V Foundation and used to have his own cancer fundraising group called Geno's Cancer Team in honor of his father who lost his battle with cancer. The teams will have a return game in Maryland next season.

? Reunion for Hartley and Thomas: UConn's Bria Hartley and Alyssa Thomas of Maryland teamed up to represent the U.S. at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships. Although mononucleosis kept Thomas from being able to play in the event, the two junior All-Americans built a strong relationship during their time as teammates and still remain in touch. Thomas leads the Terrapins with 27 assists and 11 steals, is the team's second-leading scorer and is third in rebounding.